System of radiodirective control

ABSTRACT

13,310. Hammond, J. H. June 7, 1912, [Convention date]. Drawings to Specification. Sound, controlling and actuating apparatus by. - The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) describes methods of causing apparatus, such as boats, aircraft, vehicles, or revolving lighthouses, to move in a particular direction with respect to a source of radiant energy, such as a source of light or sound waves. Two or more receivers, such as selenium cells or microphones, are so placed on the movable body that, when both are equally affected by the radiant energy, the body faces towards the source of energy, but when one receiver is more strongly affected than the other, the body is caused to move until both receivers are affected equally. In the system described, two selenium cells are separated by a screen, and if the light from a distant source falls on both cells, two relays close circuits through two steering-solenoids respectively, thus keeping the steering-mechanism in its mid-position. If the source of light moves relatively to the body, one of the cells is no longer affected, with the result that only one solenoid is energized, and the steering-mechanism is moved in the direction to turn the boat &amp;c. so that the cells are again affected equally. A similar differential method of controlling a turntable is described, the turntable being driven by a circular rack and a pinion geared to an electro-motor. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.

J. H. HAMMOND, JR.

SYSTEM OF RADIODIRECTIVE CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1912. RENEWED JANJ1B.|921.

1 ,3 7,850, Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES AORSY J. H. HAMMOND, JR.

SYSTEM OF RADIODIRECTIVE CONTROL. APPLICATiON FILED JUNE 7. 1912. RENEWED JAN. 18,1921.

Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET ARMATURE WITNESSES llJl/E/VTUR I UNHED'STATES PATENT OFF! JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR, OF GLOUGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. SYSTEFI 01E RADIODIREC'I'IVE CONTROL.

- Application filed June 7,

To all whom it may oomcem Be it known that I, JOHN HAYS HAM- MOND, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residin at Gloucester, in the State of Massac usetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Systems of Specification of Letters Patent.

1912, Serial No. 702,174. Renewed January 18, 1921.

Badiodirective Control, of which the follow-- is aspecification.

y invention relates to improvements in systems in which the movements of bodies or mechanisms are controlled or directed by radiant energy, such as light waves, radiant heat waves, ultra violet waves or electric waves. More particularly, my invention relates to methods and apparatus by which a movable body, such, for instance, as a boat, air craft, vehicle, or revolving lighthouse may be made to move or to face in the direction of a source of radiant energy.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the essential features are two receivers of radiant energy, which may be of any suitable form, such as selenium cells, bolometers, or directive electric wave receivers, according to the nature of the radiation which is to affect them. These receivers of radiant energy, by means of electrical and other apparatus, control the mechanisms which cause a movable body to face in certain directions, and they are so placed that when both are affected in approximately equal amounts by the radiant energy, the said movable body will face in a normal direction, say directly toward the source of energy, but when either receiver is more strongly affected by the radiant energy than the other, then the said apparatus and mechanisms will cause the movable body to face so that both receivers will be again equally affected.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a receiving station, on a boat or other movable body, contains receivers affected by light waves, these receivers, by means of electrical apparatus, controlling a steering or other mechanism.

Fig. 2 shows a key and other mechanism, form ng details of Fig. 1, in another position.

placed contains receivers affected by electric wa es, these receivers, by means of electric apparatus, controlling a steering or other mecha nism.

which a b Fig. 3 shows a receiving station which Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

Serial No. 438,260.

' 1g. 4 shows a receiving station, with receivers susceptible to light waves, and mechanisms for causing a movable body to face a source of radiant energy.

In Fig. 1, O is a source of light. 0 and Q show this source of light in other posit 1ons. A and B are receivers; affected by 11 ht and preferably of the selenium type.

18 an opaque screen. J and J are batteries and D and D are electromagnets, in clrcuit, respectively, with the selenium receivers, A and B. K and K are keys, controlled, respectively, by the electromagnets D and D and in circuit, respectively, with the batteries, J and J and the electromagnets D and D Key K is controlled by electromagnet D and when the latter'is dee'nergized, K makes contact at I and is in circuit with solenoid tact at H and is in circuit with the solenoid- G. Key K is controlled by electromagnet D and when the latter is denergized, K makes contact at I and is in circuit with solenoid G. When D is energized, K makes contact at H and is in circuit with solenoid G Battery J is connected with contacts H and H and also with solenoids G and G Solenoids G and G 'have a common core T, which is normally in a central position, and which operates or controls the steering or other mechanism As shown, receivers A and B and screen M have fixed positions with reference to each other and to the boat or other movable body on which they are placed. When the source of light 0 is in the position shown with reference to A and B, both receivers are illuminated, both electromagnets D and D are energized, both keys K and K are closed, both electromagnets D and D are energized, key K makes contact at H and reaks contact at I, and key K makes contact at H and breaks contact at P. Consequently, circuits through both solenoids G and G are open and core T and steering mechanism S remain in a central position.

If the source of light 0 moves to either side, or if the boat or other movable body, moves out of the direction 0 M S, either receiver A or receiver. B will be shaded from O by the screen M. If, for instance,the source of light moves to the right, to the position 0 or if the boat turns to the M will shade receiver B. The resistance of left, the screen I 110 solenoid G B will therefore increase so that the current in the circuit B J D will be diminished until the relay D is deenergized. The key K will therefore open, the electromagnet D will be deenergized, and key K will break contact at H and make contact at I The circuit from battery J through contact H, key K key K contact I and solenoid G will be completed. Core T will therefore be drawn to the right, as will also steering mechanism S, and the boat will turn toward the right so as again to face the source of light, when both receivers A and B being again equally illuminated, the steering mechanism will resume its central position. If the source of light should move to the left, or the boat turn toward the right, the screen M would shade the receiver A, and the series of operations just described will take place in the other half of the apparatus, and the steermg mechanism will be actuated so as to bring the boat again in a position facing the source of light.

In Fig. 2, the key K is shown in its position when electromagnet D is energized, and contact is made at H and broken at I.

In Fig. 3, Q is a source of electric waves, and A A and B B are two directive receiving antennae,- which receive most efliciently when the source of radiant energy is in the direction A A and B B respectively. Both antennae, however, will receive a certain amount of energy from Q in the direction Q Z. These antennae are connected, respectively, with the coils L and L and the variable condensers C and C by which they can be tuned, and both are grounded at E. Coil L is inductively connected, by means of coil L with the closed oscillatory circuit L C The rectifier R, with the stopping condenser C permits current impulses from this circuit L C to pass through the relay D which relay then closes the circuit J F G comprising the batteryJ, the variable resistance F and the and the core of the solenoid G is attracted, thus operating the steering mechanism S Coil L is inductively connected with the circuit L G which, with the rectifier R the stopping condenser C the relay D, the battery J the resistance F and the solenoid G all perform the same functions as the corresponding pieces of apparatus in the other half of the figure.

The resistances F and F are made variable, so that the action of the solenoids on the steering mechanism can be easily adjusted. All this receiving apparatus is placed on a boat or other movable body, and when this receiving station is in the position shown in the figure, both receiving antennae will be equally affected by the radiant energy from Q, and neither will be affected enough to cause the relays and solenoids to operate.

Q moves If the source of electric Waves more energy from and 6, respectively. 7 is an opaque 'ing 17 and to the right, or the boat or receivingstation turns to the left, antenna A A will receive Q and antenna B I? will receive less energy.

The increased current in rectifier R will operate relay D, circuit J F Gr willgbe closed, and solenoid G will attract its core and thus operate the steering mechanism S so that the boat will be turned toward the right and a ain face the source of radiant energy Q. hen this position has been regained, the energy received by antenna A A will be decreased so that the current through the rectifier R will no longer be capable of operating the relay D, thecurrent through the solenoid G will be broken, and the steering mechanism will resume its normal central position.

If the source of electric waves should move to the left, or the boat turn toward the right, the antenna B B will receive an increased amount of energy, and the series of operations just described will take place in the other half of the apparatus, and the steering mechanism will be actuated so as to bring the boat again in a position facing the source of electric wavess- In the art, it is Well known that in order to attain efiicient tuning it is necessary to have circuits whose electrical oscillation is persistent and slowly dampened. Therefore, in all cases where I have shown detectors it may be understood that I may employ such detecting devices as present t e least ohmic resistance in a circuit. Moreover, by means well known in the art, the interconnection of the oscillating circuits may be made to produce an amplification effect of the energy transmitted through them, rather than to suffer a direct loss due to the resistance of the circuits.

In Fig. 4 is shown another application of my invention for automatically keepinp' a body facing a source of radiant energy. elenium cells 1 and 2 are connected in series with batteries and relays 3 and 5, and 4 screen, and 8 and 9 are condensing lenses. Relays 5 and 6 control solenoid switches 10 and 11 respectively. Batteries 12 and 13 are used to energize the solenoid switches as shown. The solenoid switches control a motor 14: and battery 15.

The apparatus as shown is mounted upon a turntable 2O pivoted at 16. The motor 14 is mechanically connected by reduction gearpinion 18 to circular rack 19 in such a way that the turntablewill revolve when the motor is actuated. Only a portion of circular rack 19 is shown in the drawing but it is to be understood that itgoes all around the circle. 21 is a solenoid connected in series with the battery and resistance 22, the value of which resistance is determined by the position of contact finger 28. i O as light.

is a source of radiant energy, such The operation of the apparatus, as used with light waves,-is as follows :When selenium cells 1 .and 2 receive illumination from through lenses 8 and 9, respectively, their resistances decrease and the re lays current flowing through them from the batteries 3 and 4 respectively. Relay 5 closes the circuit 'containing'batte 12 and solenoid 10, thus energizing said solenoid and engaging the contacts at 25 by the attraccore 30. Relay 6 effects tive action of 10 on the closure of a circuit at 26, in a similar manner.

Motor 14 has its field terminals 23 connected to battery 15, and is therefore constantly energized. When the contacts at 25 and at 26' are engaged the motor armature terminals 24 are short circuited. The battery 15 is also shunted through solenoid 21. Under these conditions the circuit would run from the positive pole of battery 15 to the right hand contact 25, to the lower armature terminal 24, to the right hand contact 26, to the resistance 22, to the contact finger 28. to the solenoid 21, and to the negative pole of battery 15. Another circuit would run from the positive pole of,bat-

tery 15 to the left hand contact 26, to the upper armature terminal 24, to the left hand contact 25, to the resistance 22, to the contact finger 28, to the solenoid 21 and to the negative pole of the battery 15. The purpose of 21 and 22 is to connect 22 in the battery circuit when the current exceeds the normal operating current required by 14. Thus when 10 and 11 are energized the battery is shunted through 21 and increased attraction for core 27 causes contact finger 28 to move upward, thus adding the resistance of 22 to the circuit, and thereby preventing excessive loss of en rgy from 15.

It is obvious that when selenium cells 1v and 2 are illuminated by O the motor 14 will remain stationary, and 15 will be short circuited through 21 and 22. The resistance of 22 is of such value that the current passing through it does not' greatly exceed the current required by the armature of 14 when in operation.

If now 0 lenium cell is moved to the position 0 se- 1 will be shaded, relay 5 and solenoid 10 will be denergized, core 30 will move down, thus disengaging contacts 25, and the motor armature connections 24 and the battery 15 will no longer be short circuited. The motor will then revolve, core 27 will drop down to stop 29, and the turn table will rotate in a clockwise direction until the motor armature is again short circuited by the action of the illumination of l by 0 and 6 are operated by the increase in V If 0 moves to O selenium cell 2 will be shaded by '2' and solenoid 11 will be deenergized, the short circuit on the motor will be removed by the disengaging of contacts 26, motor 14 will rotate in a reversed direction, and turntable 20 will turn until 2 is a ain illuminated.

M} invention is not confined to the ticular apparatus or the particular kinds of radiant energy here shown, but may embody any apparatus or any form of radiant energy, which conforms with the principles of my invention.

claim as my invention Y 1. In a system of radio control, a receiving station comprising a plurality of antennae arranged to receive radiant energy in different degrees respectively, controlling devices respectively arranged to be rendered operative when said antenna are simultaneously and equally exposed to radiant energy, a rudder, and means for actuating said rudder, said means being operative to shiftsaid rudder in one direction or the other according as one or the other of said controlling devices is rendered inoperative by an unequal distribution of the received radiant energy upon said antennae.

par-

2. In a system of distant control, the com- W bination with a body rotatable about a given axis, of means for rotating said body about said axis including an element carried by said body and responsive to a suitable series of impulses of electro-radiant energy transmitted :from a given source distant from said body, a second element carried by said body and also responsive to the same series of impulses, said elements being so arranged upon said that normally said elements may be simultaneously and continuously exposed to said series of impulses throughout a ,period of time during which through a considerable angle takes place between said source and said body, and so-that during said period said elements will simultaneously receive respectively from time to time di erent amounts of the energy of said impulses, the diflerence at any particular moment between the amount of energy received by one of said elements and the amount of energy received by the other of said elements being dependent upon the degree of relative rotation which has been efaxis.

3. In a system of radio control, a rece1v-' ing station comprising a plurality of directive antennae arranged at angles to each other, said antennae being adapted to receive electroradiant energv in diflerent' dea relative rotationgrees depending upon the angles they make with a vertical plane containing the line joining the source of energy with the receiving station, detecting means connected to said antennae for detecting electric waves, and means controlled by said detecting means and arranged to respond when any one of said antennae receives an excess 0 electroradiant energy.

.4. In a system of radio control, the combination with a movable body of two directive antennae carried thereby each of said antennae being adapted to receive radiant electric energy from a given source in a variable degree depending upon the orienta tion of said antennae with respect to said source, and means actuated to move in one directionwhen an excess of said energy is received by one of said antennae and to move in a different direction when a excess of said energy is received by the other of said antennae.

5. In a s stem of radio control, the combination w1th a movable body of two directive antennaefcarried thereby, each of said antennae being adapted to. receive radiant electric energy from a given source in a variable degree depending upon the orientation of said antennae with respect to said source, and means actuated to move in one direction when an excess of said energy is received by one of said antennae and to move in a .direction opposite to said first named direction when an excess of said energy is received by the other of said antennae.

6. In a system of radio control, the combination with a movable body, of a plurality of directive antennae fixed thereonand arranged to receive electroradiant energy from a given source in different degrees respectively depending upon the relative orientation of said body with respect to said source, and means controlled by said antennae for causing said body to be rotated either in a given direction or in a contrasting direction when said antennae receives different amounts of electroradiant energy, the direction of rotation of said body depending upon which of said antennae receives the greater amount of energy.

7 In a system of radio control, the combination with a body, of a plurality of directive antennae carried thereby and arranged to respond in different degrees respectively to electroradiant energy from a given source depending upon the relative orientation of said body with respect to said source, an element controlled by and movable with respect to said antennae and arranged to be moved either in a given direction or a contrasting direction as aresult of the simultaneous reception of radiant energy by said antennae, the direction of movement of said element depending upon which of said antennae receives an excess of energy.

8'. In a. receiving system for radiant en- .ergy, the combination with a plurality of directive antennae constructed and arranged to respond simultaneously to the same series of electroradiant waves from a given source in different degrees respectively depending upon the orientation of said receiving systerm with respect to said source, and means operatively connected to all of said antennae and controlled thereby as a result of the simultaneous energization of said antennae by said series of waves to produce at different times different effects. depending upon the orientation of said antennae with respect to said source.

9. The combination with a rotatable body, of a lurality of directive antennae carried by sald body and constructed and arranged to respond simultaneously to the same series of electroradiant waves from a given source, in different degrees respectively depending upon the orientation of said body with respect to said source and means operatively connected to and controlled by said antennae as a result of the simultaneous energization of said antennae by said waves for rotating said body with respect to said source.

10. The combination with a rotatable body, of a plurality of directive antennae carried by said body and constructed and.

depending upon the orientation of said body a with respect to said source, and means operatively connected to and controlled by said antennae as a result of the simultaneous energization of said antennae by said waves for rotating said body with respect -to said source, either in one direction or in a contrasting direction depending upon the distribution of the energy of said waves among said antennae.

11. In a receiving system for radiant energy, the combination with a plurality of directive antennae constructed and arranged to respond simultaneously to the same series of electroradiant waves from a given source in different degrees respectively depending upon the orientation of said antennae with respect to said source, and an element operatively connected to all of said antennae and arranged to be controlled thereby as a result of the simultaneous energization of said antennae by said series of waves so as to move said element either in one direction or in a difi'erent direction with re ect to said antennae depending upon the distribution of the energy of said waves among said antennae.

12. The combination with a dirigible body provided with a rudder, of a plurality of directive antennae carried by said body and tribution of the energy of said waves among constructed and arranged to respond simulsaid antennae. 10 taneously to the same series of electroradiant This specification signed and witnessed waves, and means controlled by said antennae this 11th da of Ma A. D., 1912.

as a result of the simultaneous energization J O N HA S HAMMOND, JR. of said antennae by said waves to move Witnesses:

said rudder either in one direction or in an MABEL J. COOPER,

opposite direction depending upon the dis- OLIVE B. KING. 

